English edit

Etymology edit

From Old French (and modern French) contrister, from Latin contristare, from con- + tristis (sad).

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

contrist (third-person singular simple present contrists, present participle contristing, simple past and past participle contristed)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To make sad, to upset.
    • 1761, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume 3, Penguin, published 2003, page 179:
      with such weak nerves and spirits, and in the condition I am in at present, ’twould be as much as my life was worth, to deject and contrist myself with so bad and melancholy an account

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